Physiological Response of Forage Sorghum to Polymer under Water Deficit Conditions

Rostampour, M.F. and Yarnia, M. and Khoee, F R (2013) Physiological Response of Forage Sorghum to Polymer under Water Deficit Conditions. Agronomy Journal, 105 (4). pp. 951-959.

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Abstract

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is among the most important warm-season forages that is grown in mainly arid and semiarid regions of southeastern Iran. Irrigation water is an energy-intensive input and it is also becoming scarce and costly in this country. Soil application of polymeric materials such as Superab A200 (SAP) can increase soil water storage capacity and increase water use efficiency (WUE). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different rates of SAP and irrigation regimes on dry matter yield, WUE, and some physiological and yield-related traits of Speedfeed sorghum. The experiment was conducted in Zahedan, Iran, during the 2009 and 2010 seasons under limited irrigation regimes (irrigation after 40, 60, 80, and 100% crop evapotranspiration = ETc) and four rates of SAP application (0, 75, 150, and 225 kg ha–1). Results indicated significant effects of irrigation regimes, SAP levels, and their interaction. The analysis for dry matter, WUE, and benefit/cost ratio showed that applying SAP at 100% ETc had no effect on these traits, but in the treatments with water deficit, it improved all the studied traits of sorghum. With regard to economic analysis, applying 75 kg ha–1 SAP for a decrease in the sorghum’s water requirement of as much as 20% is economically justified at moderate water deficits.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Plant Physiology and Biochemistry > Plant Physiology
Divisions:	Sorghum
Depositing User:	Mr. SanatKumar Behera
Date Deposited:	23 Apr 2013 14:12
Last Modified:	23 Apr 2013 14:12
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2012.0071
URI:	http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/10365

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